Laundry heat conditioning tumbler



Oct. 10, 1944 E. D. PLJRKETT 2,369,161

LAUNDRY HEAT CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed Sept. 22. 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 1 W c/wbcvc [aw/app p. PUP/(E 77 T Oct, 10, 194 E. D. PURKETT LAUNDRY HEAT CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed Sept. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 10, 1944 -UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY HEAT CONDITIONING TUMBLER Edward D. Purkett, Joplin, Mo. Application September 22, 1943, Serial No. 503,441

Claims.

This invention relates to laundry heat conditioning tumblers and .is an improvement over the structure shown in my copending application Serial No. 400,513, filed June 30, 1941, now

Patent No. 2,339,030, granted January 11, 1944.

In my prior construction I have disclosed a highly efficient tumbling mechanism for fiufflng and shaking up laundered articles after a majority of the water has been extracted from the articles. Such a tumbling mechanism loosens the articles sufliciently to substantially remove the wrinkles from the articles to facilitate the subsequent ironing operation.

A mechanism of this character is highly advantageous for use in laundries particularly if a heating device is employed therewith, since the subjection of the damp articles to heat assists in removing the wrinkles and also in maintaining the articles at a relatively high temperature so as to'minimize the length of time required for the ironing operation. It is also advantageous to .perform the operations referred to without evaporating a substantial amount of the moisture from the articles since the proper amount of moisture facilitates the ironing of the articles.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a laundry heat conditioning tumbler which embodies the features of my prior construction referred to and improves the apparatus while at the same time substantially simplifying it to reduce the cost of manufacture and increase the eificiency and life of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a laundry heat conditioning tumbler of such construction that the tumbling of the clothes themselves will effect a circulating action of the air in the tumbler through the heating means to facilitate the heating of the articles.

A further object is to provide an improved means for packing the stationary and rotating parts of the apparatus with respect to each other to prevent the leakage of moisture and heat, the packing means being relatively close to the axis of rotation of the tumbler drum, thus rendering it more efficient and increasing its life.

A further object is to provide an improved 'door opening structure by which the articles are introduced into and discharged from the tumbling drum, the door being easily moved between open and closed position.

A further object is to provide a novel latching mechanism for positively holding the door in closed position, and to utilize the housing of the latch mechanism to assist in tumbling articles in the drum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view through the tumbling drum and associated elements,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the same, the belt housing being shown in section,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure-4, and,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the door latch spring mounting.

Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5 the numeral 10 designates the supporting frame for the apparatus as a whole comprising a horizontal frame member ll extending from front to rear of the apparatus and supported at its ends by legs l2.

A transversely extending frame structure I3 is arranged in the same horizontal plane as the frame member H and has opposite ends supported by-legs H. The frame structure further includes vertically extending spaced standards 15 by which is supported a tumbling drum structure indicated as a whole by the numeral l6 and referred to in detail later.

The horizontal supporting structure of the apparatus carries a horizontal plate I! on which is arranged a motor unit '18 provided with a conventional speed reducing mechanism IS the output shaft 20 (Figure 5) of which carries a pulley 2| around which passes a belt 22. motor 18 is preferably oil the type having a built-in brake (not shown) and the motor and brake are controlled by a switch (not shown) which is closed to energize the motor and a release t'h'e brake and is opened to open the circuit to the motor and apply the brake to bring the motor quickly to a standstill. A handle 23 may be operated to release the brake manually if the electric current is cut off for any reason. The motor and associated elements form no part per se of the present invention and need not be illustrated or described in detail.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 the numeral 25 designates a bearing housing arranged centrally The of a horizontal supporting structure 26 having its ends preferably welded to the upper ends of the standards IS. The supporting structure 26 preferably is cut away centrally thereof to receive the bearing housing 25, this housing being solidly welded to the adjacent ends of the supporting structure 26. The bearing structure carries a casing wall 21 at its inner end arranged perpendicular to the axis of the bearing housing 25 and this wall is preferably formed integral with a cylindrical wall 28 extending toward the rear of the apparatus, as will become apparent, and having its free edge turned outwardly as at 29 for a purpose to be described. Obviously the elements 2], 28 and 29 are carried by the bearing housing 25 and are stationary.

The bearing housing 25 carries anti-friction bearings 30 and 3| rotatably supporting a spindle 32. This spindle has an enlarged shoulder 33 engaging the adjacent end of the bearing 3| and a nut 34 is threaded on the spindle 32 and engages the bearing 38. Accordingly the spindle 32 is supported for rotation and is positively fixed against axial movement. A pulley 35 is splined on the spindle 32 outwardly of the nut 34, and a nut 36 is threaded on the extremity of the spindle to hold the pulley 35 in position. The pulley is preferably splined on the spindle as at 31 (Figure 2). The belt 22 passes around the pulley 35 and accordingly the motor l8 drives the spindle 32.

The pulleys 2| and 35 and the belt 22 are preferably covered by a protective casing to prevent injury to the elements and'to prevent any possible injury to operators working around the machine. The casing comprises a plate 48 secured against the rear faces of the standards I5 and structural member 26 and has its upper end in substantially semicircular form extending around and beyond the pulley 35 as at 4| (Figure 5). A casing 42 is secured against the plate 48 and, as shown in section in Figure 5, follows and is parallel to the entire length of the belt 22. Obviously the casing 42 and plate cooperate to completely house the belt and pulleys, the plate 48 being apertured as will be obvious to receive the shaft 28 in the extending end of the spindle 32.

The tumbler structure l6 comprises a rotating tumbler formed of a cylindrical imperforate wall 45 and spaced from the rear end of the cylindrical wall and arrangedtherewithin is a relatively heavy flat wall 45 preferably perforated substantially throughout its area as at 41. The wall 46 is secured as at 48 (Figure 2) to a flange 49 carried by the inner end of the spindle 32. The periphery of the wall 46 is p efe provided with a cylindrical flange 58 securely fixed to the cylinder 45, preferably by welding. The tumbler is also provided with a forward wall 5| having a peripheral flange 52 also securely fixed to the cylinder 45. The walls 46 and 5| are preferably parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tumbler for a purpose to be described.

The cylinder is further provided at its rear end with a wall 53 also preferably perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tumbler and likewise flanged at its periphery as at 54 to be tightly fitted into and secured to the cylinder 45. The walls 5| and 53 are both imperforate and the wall 53 has its inner periphery 55 spaced radially outwardly of the bearing housing 25 as shown in Figure 2. Adjacent such inner periphery the wall 53 is provided with an annular channel 55 in which is arranged a suitable annular packing element 51 against which the flange '29 operates. It will be apparent that the walls 21, 53, 45.and 5| provide a substantially leak-proof housing, except for a door to be described later, and this door is normally closed to prevent the escape of moisture from the drum structure.

The space between the walls 46 and 53 is utilized as a heating chamber. Steam coils 68 are arranged in such space as' shown in Figure 2. Steam is supplied for circulation through these coils by means of an inlet pipe 6| arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tumbler and extending through the wall portion 28. The inlet end 62 of the pipe 6| extends horizontally rearwardly through the space radially inwardly of the wall 28 and the inner periphery 55 of the wall 53. The heating coils also are provided with an outlet pipe 63 arranged in the plane of the pipe 6| and also extending through the stationary wall portion 28. The pipe 53 has its end 64 turned to extend from the rear of the apparatus for connection with a take-off pipe. It will be apparent that the heating means comprising the pipes 6| and 62 and the heating coils 68 are stationary and are held in position by the casing walls 21 and 28 while the remainder of the tumbler structure rotates.

In my prior construction referred to there is disclosed a loading and unloading door opening which is cut through the cylindrical and forward walls of the apparatus. With such an arrangement the apparatus may be loaded with the tumbler rotated to a position in which the dobr opening faces upwardly, or the tumbler may be unloaded by gravity with the tumbler rotated to a position wherein the door opening is at the bottom of the tumbler. In such prior construction the door opening was closed by a door structure rotatable on the axis of the drum. In the present construction the same features as to the door opening are provided but a much improved door structure is employed for closing the opening, such door structure being quickly and readily operable. Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6 it will be noted that the cylinder 45 is cut as at 58 to provide an opening which extends a substantial distance around the cylinder 45 and has its edge arranged perpendicular to the axis of the drum. One extremity of the opening in the cylinder 45 is shown in Figure 1 and is indicated by the numeral 69. The wall 5| (Figure 2) is out along a preferably straight line at the point 10 to complete the formation of the door in the two walls 45 and 5|.

A door indicated as a whole by the numeral 1| normally closes the opening in the drum cylinder. This door comprises a wall 12 which is formed as a section of a cylinder corresponding with the portion of the cylinder 45 formed by cutting away the portion of the cylinder referred to to form the opening. When the door is in closed position, therefore, the curved wall 72 forms a part of the cylinder-45. The door is similarly provided with a wall portion 13 which takes the place of the portion of the wall 5| cut away as at 10, and thus forms in effect a portion of the wall 5| when the door is closed. The wall 13 is connected to the wall 5| by a hinge 14 preferably extending throughout the length of the edge 10, as indicated in Figure 4. Instead of the door 1| being rotatable on the axis of the tumbler, therefore, it is freely movable on the axis of the hinge I4 beangle iron section as shown in Figure 6, the face view of the element 19 being shown in Figure 4. It will be noted that the element I9 defines a vertically elongated opening 8| and the latch operating lever to be referred to projects through this opening.

At the end of the door II remote from the hinge a pair of upstanding angle irons or similar structural elements 82 (Figures 3 and 6) are seated at their lower ends on the stiffening member I9 and are welded thereto. The remote sides of the structural elements are parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the outer faces of the opposite flanges of the structure I9 and the elements I9 and 82 are received in and support a substantially U-shaped casing member 84 (Figures 3 and 6). This casing member preferably is formed of sheet metal and serves to house most of the latch mechanism to be described. The casing member 84 may be welded to the members 19 and 82 and outwardly of the member 19 another angle iron stiffening element 85 may be arranged as shown in Figure 6 and secured rigidly in position to the wall I3, structural member I9 and casing 84.

Adjacent the cut-away 68 the cylinder 45 is provided with a bracket 81 rotatably supporting a roller 88 (Figures 2, 3 and 6). The structural members 82 pivotally support a latch member 89 as indicated by the numeral 90 and the radially outer end 9| of the latch member 89 is arranged at an angle to the axis of the drum and is engageable with the roller 88 when the door is locked in closed position. The edge of the latch 89 remote from the opening 8| is sloped as at 9| for engagement with the roller 88 as the door is mo ed toward closed position to swing the latch toward the right as viewed in Figure 6 until the latch clears the roller 88. An operating arm 92 has one end welded to the latch member 89 as indicated by the numeral 93 and is provided with a finger piece 94 at its opposite end operating in the opening 8|. The free endof the finger piece extends very slightly from the drum when the latch is in closed position as shown in Figure 6, and therefore does not constitute a projecting hazard in the operation of the drum.

A stiffening bar 95 is welded or otherwise secured to the door member I2 and to the casing 84 and extends longitudinally of the latter, This bar serves to provide additional stifiening means for the door II. A loop member 96 is welded to the bar 95 and at its opposite edgesto the structural elements '82. The member 95 serves to anchor a rod 91 (Figures 6 and 7), the rod having a hook 98 at one end engageable in the loop member 98. A short distancefrom the loop 96 the rod 91 itself is looped as at 99 and from this point to its opposite end the rod is ofisetas at I99 from the hook 98 and loop 99. A spring II has one end engaging the loop 99 and its Op site end engaging a hook I02 formed by a-portion of theoperating rod 92. The rod 91 has a free hook I92 at its end opposite the hook 98, as shown in Figure 6. The purpose of the rod 9'! will be referred to later.

During the operation of the apparatus it is desirable to alternately lift and drop the articles in the tumbler. In the present apparatus the casing 84 (see Figure 3) acts as a rib engageable with the articles to lift and drop them during rotation of the drum. Diametrically opposite the casing 84 the drum is provided with a rib I05 to perform the same function.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the tumbler will have been previously emptied and the door II will be ina position at the bottom of the drum as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the operator will close the switch (not shown) to energize the motor I8, thus releasing the motor brake and operating the motor to rotate the drum I6 through the pulley 2| (Figure 5) belt 22 and pulley 35. When the door reaches a position at the top of the drum the operator will open the switch to stop the motor I8 and apply the brake included as an integral part of the motor. It will be apparent that under such conditions the door and the latch mechanism associated therewith will be arranged at the top side of the drum.

With the parts in the positions stated, the operator will pull radially inwardly or downwardly on the finger piece 94 which will move the bar 92 radially inwardly and swing the latch 89 in the direction of the drum wall 5|. Thus the latch 89 will be released from the roller 88, whereupon theoperator may open the door, the wall 93 of the door swinging to a position adjacent and parallel to the drum wall 5| with the door projecting from the wall 5|. The laundered articles to be tumbled will then be loaded into the drum through the door opening, whereupon the door may be swung to closed position and the tapered edge 9| will ride over the roller 88 as the door moves to closed position to swing the latch 89 bodily toward the right as viewed in Figure 2 until the door reaches closed position.

The spring II will thereupon pull radially outwardly on the bar 92 to move the latch 89 to its closed position with the latch edge 9| engaging the roller 88. The apparatus is now ready for operation to efiect the tumbling of the articles.

It will be apparent that the steam will be sup plied to the coils 68 in the heating chamber through pipe 62 and associated elements, and steam and water of condensation will leave the heating coils through the pipes 63 and 64. A' circulation of steam is maintained through the coils 60 during the operation of the apparatus to heat the articles in the drum as will be apparent. The heating and tumbling operation is started by again operating the motor switch (not shown) to start the motor I8 andthe motor is left running for the required time to complete the tumbling operation. As the tumbler rotates the articles will be picked up and dropped alter themselves. It will be noted that the walls 46 and 5| are parallel to each other thus defining a tumbling space of uniform width. The rib I05, and the casing 84 acting as a rib, will contact the articles and lift them bodily above the horizontal center of the drum, whereupon the articles will drop from the successive ribs into the bottom of the drum. When the articles thus drop to the bottom of the drum they carry a substantial body of air before them and force such air from the tumbling space through the perforations 4'! into the heating chamber. Thus the tumbling of the articles facilitates the circulation of the air and tends to circulate the air in the same direction as this is done by the thermo-syphonic action referred to.

As previously stated the articles are placed in the tumbler in a damp condition. It is desirable to maintain the moisture in the articles and to maintain or.elevate the temperature of the articles since both of these conditions greatly facilitate the subsequent ironing operation. It will be apparent that if the loosened articles are fed to the ironers relatively highly heated they will absorb less heat from the ironing rolls or pressing machines and thus may pass through the ironers at a relatively greater rate of speed, thus increasing the eiliciency of the ironing operation. The maintenance of moisture in the articles permits the ironing operation to take place more efficiently than if any substantial amount of. moisture should be evaporated from the articles while in the tumbler. As is well known, it is diflicult to remove wrinkles from relatively dry laundered articles. In the present apparatus substantially no air escapes into or out of the tumbling mechanism and accordingly substantially the original amount of moisture is maintained in the articles to facilitate the ironing operation. In this connection it will be noted that the packing 51 seals the stationary and rotating parts of the apparatus against leakage. Any leakage of air through the casing 84 is eliminated by the fact that the latch 89 substantially fills the space between the two angle irons B2.

. Tight wrinkles may be shaken out of articles much more quickly if the articles are maintained in a damp condition, and particularly if the articles are maintained relatively hot. The heating of the articles and the maintaining of the articles in a damp condition thus not only fa cilitates the subsequent ironing operation, but also materially shortens the period during which the articles must be tumbled.

As distinguished from my prior construction referred to above it will be noted that the present apparatus locates the packing 51 much closer to the axis of rotation of. the drum. Simpler and far more eflicient packing means thus may be employed than in the prior construction. The circulation of air is more efllcient in the present construction than in the prior construction, although itdepends on the same principles of operation, for the reason that the walls 46 and SI are parallel to each other, thus minimizing the amount of air which can pass upwardly around the articles as they tumble downwardly without such air passing through the perforations of the adjacent heater casing wall.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the present construction is a substantial improvement over my prior construction referred to, and over any other structures of this nature of which I aware. Moreover, while substantially improved results are obtained it will be noted that 76 rounding wall and end walls onn t thereto the entire apparatus is simpler and much more economical to manufacture. The apparatus is highly advantageous for this additional reason.

In my prior construction I provide a door opening cut through the front and cylindrical walls of thedrum and such door opening was closed by a door structure mounted to rotate on the axis of the drum. The present door structure is a substantial improvement in that it is considerably simpler and is much easier to operate. The door latch mechanism is of such construction that there is no tendency for it to become unlatched, the spring lfll at all times urging the latch 89 to a more tightly locked position, The latch obviously is very easily operated by moving the finger piece 94 and the door automatically locks when moved to closed position. In the manufacture of the apparatus all of the elements associated with the latch mechanism, including the casing 84, elements 19, 82, etc. are assembled and the spring l0! may be inserted last and replaced if necessary by a proper manipulation of the rod 91. The loop I02 may be grasped by long-nosed pliers and pushed inwardly and laterally to release the Spring mechanism, and such mechanism may be inserted by reversing this operation. In other words, with the spring assembled with respect to the rod 51, the left hand end of this rod and the spring, as viewed in Figure 6, may be inserted in the opining 8i and by means of a suitable implement, as referred to, the hook 98 may be engaged in the loop 96. A suitable pulling implement may then pull the opposite end of the spring outwardly into engagement with the hook I02. The spring exerts a direct straight line pull between the loop 96 and hook I02, the right hand end of the rod 91 as viewed in Figure 6 being left free.

As suggested above the drum is unloaded with the door opening arranged at the bottom of the drum. The latch is released by pulling upwardly or radially inwardly on the finger piece 94 and then swinging the door to open position, whereupon the tumbled articles will fall from the bottom of the drum. It will be noted that a space is left between the bottom of the drum and the frame member I I. This arrangement permits the dropping of the articles into a basket or other receptacle supported on the. frame member II. If desired, one end of an endless belt conveyor means extends into the space referred to to catch the articles as they drop and conve them to the ironer.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of'the invention or the on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls connected thereto and arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, oneof said wallsbeing normally imperforate and the other being perforated, a heating chamber communicating with said tumbling chamber through said perforated wall, and heating means mounted in said heating chamber.

2. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surand arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, one of said walls being normally imperforate and the other being perforated, a casing cooperating with said surrounding wall and said perforated wall to form a heating chamber, and heating means withi said heating chamber.

3. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls connected thereto and arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, one of said walls being normally imperforat and the other being perforated, said surrounding wall extending longitudinally beyond said perforated wall, a radially inwardly extending wall carried by the end of the extending portion-of said surrounding wall, a stationary wall structure having an annular edge portion arranged in proximity to said inwardly extending wall, and heating means arranged in the space defined by said perforated wall, the extending portion of said surrounding,

wall, said inwardly extending wall and said stationary wall structure.

4. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls connected thereto and arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, one of said walls being normally imperforate and the other being perforated, said surrounding wall extending longitudinally beyond said perforated wall, a radially inwardly extending wall carried by the end of the extending portion of said surrounding wall, a stationary wall structure having an annular edge portion arranged in proximity to said inwardly extending wall, said inwardly extending wall having its inner periphery spaced from the axis of rotation of the tumbler, said stationary wall structure, said perforated wall, the extending portion of said surrounding wall and said inwardly extending wall defining a heating cham her, and heating means in said heating chamber carried by said stationary wall structure and having means for connecting it to a source of heat, such means extending through the space within the inner periphery of said inwardly extending wall.

5. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler comprising a wall surrounding such axis, a perforated wall within said surrounding wall intermediate the ends thereof, a normally imperforate end wall connected to one end of said surrounding wall, said perforated wall, said end wall and said surrounding wall defining a tumbling chamber, and a radially inwardly extending wall connected at its outer periphery to the other end of said surrounding wall, said inwardly extending wall having an inner periphery defining an opening substantially smaller than said surrounding wall, a stationary wall having a cylindrical wall portion one edge of which terminates adjacent the inner periphery of said inwardly extending wall, packing means between said cyl ndrical wall portion and said inwarcly extending wall, and heating means arranged in the space defined by said perforated wall, said inwardly extending wall, said stationary wall and said surrounding wall.

6. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein said heating means comprises steam coils, and supply and outlet pipes for said coils projecting radially inwardly through said cylindrical wall portion and then longitudinally from said tumbler through the space inside the inner periphery of said inwardly extending wall.

7. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 provided with a spindle connected to said perforated wall and projecting through said stationary wall, a bearing for said spindle, said stationar wall being carried by said bearing, and means for rotating said spindle.

8. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 provided with a Spindle connected to said perforated wall and projecting through said stationary wall, a bearing for said spindle, said stationary wall being carried by said bearing, and means for rotating said spindle, said heating means comprising steam coils, and supply and.

outlet pipes for said coils extending radially inwardly therefrom through said cylindrical wall portion and then longitudinally from said tumbler through the space within the inner periphery of said inwardly extending wall. a

9. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein said surrounding wall and said end wall are cut-away to provide a loading and unloading opening, a hinged door normally closing said opening and having portions forming substantial continuations respectively of said end wall and said surrounding wall, and a latch mechanism normally holding said door in closed position.

10. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein said surrounding wall and said end wall are cut-away to provide a loading and unloading opening, a door normally closing said opening and having portions forming substantial continuations respectively of said end wall and said surrounding wall, a hinge connecting to said end wall the portion of said door which forms a continuation thereof, a latch. within said tumbling chamber adjacent the edge of said door remote from said hinge, an operating arm connected to said latch and accessible from the outside of said tumbler for operating said latch, and a casing carried by said door within said drum and housing said latch and said operating arm.

11. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mountedfor rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, said surrounding wall and one of said end walls being cut-away to form a loading and discharge opening, a cover structure for such opening comprising a pair of wall portions one of which forms a continuation of said surrounding wall and the other of which forms a continuation of said last named end wall when the door structure is closed, a hinge connecting said door structure to said last named end wall whereby said door structure swings between open and closed positions in an are about an axis which is perpendicular to said horizontal axis, and a latch device for holding said door in closed position.

12. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising atumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall-and end walls arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, said surrounding wall and one of said end walls being cut-away to form a loading and discharge opening, "a cover structure for such opening comprising a pair of wall portions one of which forms a continuation of said surrounding wall and the other of which forms a continuation of said last named end wall when the door structure is closed, a hinge connecting said wall structure to said last'named end wall whereby said door structure swings between open and closed positions in an are about an axis which is perpendicular to said horizontal axis, a latch mechanism'for holding said door in closed position and arranged internally of said tumbler, and a housing for said latch mechanism carried by said door structure to protect the latter from articles within the tumbler and to alternately lift and drop such articles during rotation of the tumbler.

13. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal'axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, saidsurrounding Wall and one of said end walls being cut-away to form a loading and discharge opening, a cover structure for such opening comprising a pair of wall portions one of which forms a continuation of said surrounding wall and the other of which forms a continuation of said last named end wall when the door structure is closed, a hinge connecting said wall structure to said last named end wall whereby said door structure swings between open and closed positions in an are about an axis which is perpendicular to said horizontal axis, a latch carried by said door structure internally of the tumbler and adjacent the edge of the door structure remote from said hinge, operating means for said latch, and a housing for said latch and for said operating means carried by said door structure within the tumbler.

14. An article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumbler mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, said tumbler having a surrounding wall and end walls arranged parallel to each other to define a tumbling chamber of uniform width, said surrounding wall and one of said end walls being cut-away to form a loading and discharge opening, a cover structure for such opening comprising a pair of wall portions one of which forms a continuation of said surrounding wall and the other of which forms a continuation of said last named end wall when the door structure is closed, a hinge connecting said wall structure to said last named end wall whereby said door structure swings between open and closed positions in an are about an axis which is perpendicular to said horizontal axis, a pivoted latch within said tumbler carried by said door structure adjacent the edge thereof remote from said hinge, a latch engaging element carried by said surrounding wall, said latch having an inclined edge portion engageable with said element when the latch is turned in one direction, spring means for urging said latch to turn in said direction, and operating means for said latch having an end projecting externally of the tumbler to be manually operated.

15. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 14 wherein said door structure is provided within said tumbling chamber with a guard casing for said latch and said operating means.

EDWARD D. PURKETI. 

